Boy George reveals why Culture Club did not perform at Live Aid

Boy George and Culture Club perform during the filming of the Graham Norton Show at BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION. Photo credit PA Images on behalf of So TV (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)

Live Aid is widely considered one of the most important concerts in Rock and Roll history, but Boy George of Culture Club has revealed why they did not perform.

The 1985 show, which was broadcast via satellite around the world alongside concerts held simultaneously in other locations, featured music royalty of the day, including Paul McCartney, Queen, David Bowie and The Who.

Now lead singer Boy George has revealed it was because he was too "engaged chemically".

Speaking on the podcast Grounded with Louis Theroux he said: "I messed it up. I was otherwise engaged chemically.

"I mean, I think it was a stroke of luck that we didn't do it because I wasn't in a fit state to do it."

He added: "We were originally asked but then I think everyone was just looking at the state of me and going, 'this might be more harmful than good'. So, they basically didn't follow up on it."

British pop acts gathered on stage for the finale of the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, 13th July 1985. The group includes George Michael, left in yellow shirt, centre stage Bono, Paul McCartney and Freddie Mercury share a microphone, David Bowie is behind them and Howard Jones is on the right. Event organiser Bob Geldof stands next to George Michael. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

In the candid chat, the 80s pop icon said he thought Theroux was on drugs when he saw him take part as a guest on The Graham Norton Show last year.

The 58-year-old tweeted at the time: "What's wrong with Louis Theroux?" The tweet was later deleted.

Addressing his initial thoughts, George admitted he got it wrong, saying: "One of the things as a recovering addict is I often watch people of TV and I go, 'They are off their nut'. Most times I'm completely wrong."

Grounded with Louis Theroux, a new podcast started by the 49-year-old as a response to being in lockdown, is available online now.